Whose Fault?

When natural disaster strikes, how much is the public entitled to know – even when the scientists aren’t sure? What obligations do they have to a general public thirsty for information about what will happen next? Should they wait until they have all the facts before they say anything?

Caught up in the ongoing earthquakes, Christchurch newspaper journalist Paul Gorman struggled to make sense of what the scientists were telling him. Was there more? Were worried residents receiving the full picture? In this BWB Text Gorman describes his troubled ongoing dealings with government scientists and the extraordinary challenges that confront reporters at times of crisis.

What are BWB Texts?

BWB Texts are short books on big subjects by great New Zealand writers. Commissioned as short digital-first works, BWB Texts unlock diverse stories, insights and analysis from the best of our past, present and future New Zealand writing.

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